(see image)
The question I wanted to ask was in all diagrams or images on the internet not a single one shows a link between the switches. If we remove the link between switch 1 and switch 2 communication is not possible. Doesn't a link need to be both switches?

So removing the link from nic 1 on Server A means it cant get to nic 1on Server B.
[thats fine i get that bit] however it should still be able to see nic 2 on Server B on switch 2 using nic 2 on itself but it doesn't???

I mean should node A be able to ping both IP addresses on node b even if one of its links fails? doesn't the traffic just go out over its other nic to the second switch?

Secondly, how do we configure both nic's on the qnap. at the moment all the images on the net show one link to the "storage array". Our storage array has two network cards we would like to use as a redundant path should one of the interfaces get disconnected.

Although your original question title indicates a need for clustering advice your actual text asks about the infrastructure and network setup - setting up clustering service is straight forward, setting

i'm not an expert in this by any means but I do know that the switches should not be dependent on each other for a link because if one fails the other one should be able to handle communication on its own - a link between them is therefore only useful for managing in a working state.

I believe what you are missing is configuration of multi-path across the switches and that takes more knowledge than I have.

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Although your original question title indicates a need for clustering advice your actual text asks about the infrastructure and network setup - setting up clustering service is straight forward, setting up one that works effectively and copes with all failover conditions can be tricky and depends on several factors (of which the OS revision is only the first).

I recommend you mark this one as answered and put a new one up - you will get fresh eyes on it if you list it specifically as a question on windows clustering and say which server version you are working with.

I also noted an omission in my first response - the link between the switches provides an alternate path should one of the links between a switch and a server fail - but the point that they are not inter dependent stands

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